Amul claims to use natural vanilla in ice-creams

Ahmedabad, Mar 17 (UNI) Amul India today claimed to be the first national brand in ice-cream sector to use natural vanilla extract for its entire vanilla ice-cream range.

Vanilla farmers from Kerala had contacted Chairman of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation in the year 2005, for assisting them in marketing the crop, after a drastic fall in its prices.

The farmers later visited Amul Dairy at Anand and taking inspiration from the Amul Model, created their own producers company. With the help of experts and professionals, they made value addition to vanilla under their brand Vanilco and sent samples of extracted vanilla to Amul for testing, Amul sources said here today.

Taking note of the problems faced by farmers extracted the Company decided to switch to natural vanilla in its ice-creams in orders to assist the farmers and provide market access to their product, they added.

Pure natural vanilla is an extremely complex flavour from the fruit of an orchid called vanilla planifolia. The major flavour component of vanilla beans is natural vanillin, which appears as a white crystalline material on well cured aged beans, sources said.